Ben Kweller – Thirteen

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Thirteen" Ringtone to Cell

We've been in the rain
we've been on the mountain
we've been round the fire

In fancy hotels
drank water from farm wells
we sang with the choir

I kissed your dry lips
We jumped off the high cliffs
and splashed down below

skin to skin
in the salty river
made love in the shadow
woooah ooh

read books to each other
read the mind of the other
flew one thousand jets

we laughed and we cried
at movies and real life
and our ridiculous bets

we danced in the moonlight at midnight
we pressed against back doors and wood floors
and you never faked it

and frequently
we ignored our love
but we could never mistake it
oooh ooh

we met on the front porch
fell in love on the phone
without the physical wreck

you gave me the necklace
that used to hang
around your mothers neck

we questioned religions
fed bread to the pigeons
we learned how to pray

we stood by the ocean
turned our hearts in to one
we layed in bed all day
heeey

we skipped on the sidewalk
skipped stones on the water
we skipped town

we've seen the sunrise with new eyes
we've seen the damage of gossip and true lies
we've seen the sun go down

had passionate makeouts
and passionte freakouts
we built this world of our own

it was in the back of a taxi
when you told me you loved me
and that i wasnt alone

Send "Thirteen" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Wispyluke

Track duration: 04:17


Thirteen song meanings
Add your thoughts

24 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:"Thirteen", as a title, to me, references the Big Star song. Aside from the simple rhythm pattern, and the narrative lyric, there's a chord pairing at the end of some sections of Kweller's song that mirrors the basic chord pattern in the Big Star version, G/C/G, that play throughout the latter song.
    Flag cameronjon September 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just started crying when I heard this song and was thinking about my girlfriend,
    this song made me realize that I love her, it's such a beautiful song and knowing that he wrote it about his wife and how personal the song is just makes it that much more beautiful
    Flag dontcarvemeouton April 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:livelovemusiccc
    "does anyone find the harmonica solo a little unneccesary?"

    Think about what the song would sound like if it didn't have the solo? It wouldn't work! You probably haven't heard him do it live?! It was outstanding and mesmirising.
    Flag b2r2yon June 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:So basically BK is my favorite musician ever, but this song kind of sucks. The lyrics are very nice, but awkwardly personal and musically...so boring. When I was at his concert, people actually laughed during the piano "solo" because, well, the solo is like a couple disconnected chords that any kid could play. I mean, I love Ben Kweller to death, but this song pales in comparison to some of his early love songs, like "Lizzy." Now THAT'S a good song.
    Flag Hey Buddyon June 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:when it says, "We met on the front porch, fell in love on the phone without the phyiscal wreck." related a lot to me. this is what happens in real life a lot. you meet someone somewhere, and nothing comes out of it. but you start talking to them for hours on the phone or texting them, and that is when you really start getting to know them.
    Flag Miniemetooon May 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:(had passionate makeouts
    and passionte freakouts
    we built this world of our own)

    god thats what love is like.
    Flag beck112on February 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he's only 26, i hope he hasn't been married for 13 years..
    Flag jeffmcon December 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Maybe he and his wife have known each other/been together/been married for thirteen years.

    I also thought it was about when he was 13 years old, but wondered if that was accurate with all the sex.
    Flag keanusmommaon November 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Correction:

    Read books to each other
    Read the mind of the other
    Flew one thousand JETS

    We laughed and we cried
    At movies and real life
    AND our ridiculous BETS
    Flag Eamonon October 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:does anyone find the harmonica solo a little unneccesary?

    i absolutely love this song though.
    Flag livelovemusicccon September 08, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain